Bluebirds in Connecticut [The Ultimate Resource]


Bluebirds are some of North America’s most beloved songbirds. If you live in Connecticut, you may be familiar with seeing bluebirds out in the countryside or perched up on a telephone wire. Fortunately, these birds can easily be spotted in rural areas all over the state, so even if you have never seen one, there’s still hope. For anyone who lives in Connecticut that is interested in bluebirds, you’ve come to the right place. This is your ultimate resource for Bluebirds in Connecticut!

Contents

  • What Species of Bluebirds Live in Connecticut?
    • Where to See Bluebirds in Connecticut
    • Similar Birds
  • How to Attract Bluebirds
    • Feeding Bluebirds
    • What Nest Box Should I Use for Bluebirds in Connecticut?
  • Get Involved In Bluebird Conservation
    • Connecticut Bluebird Conservation Organizations
    • How to Report Your Bluebird Fledglings in Connecticut
  • Connecticut Bluebird FAQs
Eastern Bluebird in Connecticut
Photo by acryptozoo is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

What Species of Bluebirds Live in Connecticut?

There are three species of bluebirds that live in the United States, but the Eastern Bluebird is the only species found in Connecticut. Eastern Bluebirds find their home in Connecticut and other states, primarily east of the Rocky Mountains. They are frequently seen in open areas, like fields and backyards, where they have plenty of space to hunt for insects. 

Even though these birds once saw a population decline in the US, thanks to conservation efforts, Eastern Bluebirds are now common throughout the state of Connecticut.

Here are a few fast facts about Eastern Bluebirds.

Eastern Bluebird Fast Facts

Latin NameSialia sialis
HabitatGrasslands, open fields, countryside
DietMostly insects – typically crickets, caterpillars, spiders, beetles
Nest TypeSecondary-cavity nesters – old woodpecker holes, dead trees, nest boxes
Nest DescriptionDry grasses, animal hair, pine needles
Egg Description3-5 pale blue (or sometimes white) eggs
Conservation StatusLow Concern
Eastern Bluebird Fast Facts
Eastern Bluebird Pair
Photo by 611catbirds, too is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Where to See Bluebirds in Connecticut

As a general rule, you can find bluebirds in Connecticut in many open places out in the country. They typically live in places with scattered trees, fence rows, open fields, and where old woodpecker holes or nest boxes are available for nesting. You likely won’t find them in a densly populated city.

Common places to find bluebirds in Connecticut:

  • Open fields
  • Backyards
  • Golf courses
  • Fence posts
  • Telephone wires
  • Cemeteries

Similar Birds to Bluebirds in Connecticut

Blue Jays and Indigo Buntings are blue-colored birds that are often incorrectly called “bluebirds.” However, they are different species entirely. Blue Jays are much larger blue-colored birds found throughout much of the eastern and central United States. Indigo Buntings are smaller, but rarer, blue-colored birds that people also confuse with Eastern Bluebirds.

Species: Blue Jay

Blue Jay (Male)
Photo by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region is marked with CC PDM 1.0

Species: Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting (Male)
Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Learn more about how to differentiate between Eastern Bluebirds and Indigo Buntings in this article that I wrote here.

Male Eastern Bluebird in a Tree
Photo by ibm4381 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

How to Attract Bluebirds in Connecticut

The best way to attract bluebirds in Connecticut is to put up a nest box in an open area. Since bluebirds are secondary-cavity nesters, they make use of old woodpecker holes, natural tree cavities, and nest boxes to build their nest. They cannot build nests in trees like robins, cardinals, or many other birds.

If you have a medium to large sized backyard in the country, consider putting up a bluebird nest box. If you set up a bluebird house in the middle of February, you could have a nesting pair of bluebirds by early spring!

Learn everything you need to know about attracting bluebirds in the article that I wrote here: How to Attract Bluebirds.

Feeding Bluebirds

If you have already spotted bluebirds in your area, you can also train them to come to a bird feeder. However, they won’t eat the same seeds that you might put out for other birds. At a bird feeder, bluebirds enjoy live mealworms, especially during the summer when insects make up the majority of their diet. During the winter, when insects become scarce, you can attract bluebirds to your feeder with sunflower seed hearts, berries, pieces of fruit, chopped peanuts, and peanut butter. For winter bluebird feeding tips, check out this article I wrote here.

What Nest Box Should I Use for Bluebirds in Connecticut?

Standard Wooden Bluebird House
Photo by Dolan Trout is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The two best nest boxes that I recommend for Eastern Bluebirds are the following:

  1. A wooden nest box with a 1 1/2 inch round entrance hole (see my favorite one here)
  2. The Gilbertson-style PVC pipe nest box with a 1 1/2 inch round entrance hole (see my pick here)

Each of these styles of nest boxes work very well at attracting Eastern Bluebirds.

If you want to build your own nest box, take a look at the detailed nest box plans that I currently recommend on my website. Click here to see the list of nest box plans.

Get Involved With Bluebirds in Connecticut

If you want to get involved with bluebird conservation in Connecticut, the best thing you can do is to become an active bluebird landlord. What is a bluebird landlord? A bluebird landlord is someone who attracts and cares for bluebirds by providing a safe place for them to nest.

You can do a lot for bluebirds just by providing a safe place for them to nest in your backyard. I wrote an article called 10 Steps to Become a Bluebird Landlord. Read that article and get started attracting bluebirds to your backyard today!

If you want to get even more involved in bluebird conservation in Connecticut, consider joining an official conservation organization.

Bluebird Conservation Organizations in Connecticut

While there are not any dedicated Bluebird conservation organizations in Connecticut, the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) is active at promoting the recovery of bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds around the country.

You can find out more information about NABS on their website here. Consider learning more about bluebirds on their site, becoming a member, or making a donation to support their work.

How to Report Your Bluebird Fledglings

So, you attracted a pair of bluebirds, they had babies, and those babies grew up and flew away. Congrats! You’ve done an amazing job. Don’t forget to report the number of baby bluebirds that “fledged,” or left the nest. This helps researches keep track of how well the bluebirds population is doing.

The best way to officially report your bluebird fledglings in Connecticut is online at NestWatch.org, a website of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Click this link to report your yearly bluebird fledglings online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bluebirds stay in Connecticut in the winter?

Many bluebirds generally leave Connecticut during the winter months. Eastern Bluebirds that live in the northern part of the US, such as in northern Michigan or Connecticut, typically fly to the southeastern states for the winter where they enjoy milder temperatures and better food availability.

Conclusion

Eastern Bluebirds are one of America’s most beloved birds. With their strikingly blue color, their gentle song, and their preference for the quiet countryside, bluebirds often evoke a sense of peace and nostalgia for Connecticut residents.

If you are interested in attracting Eastern Bluebirds to your own backyard, learn how you can do that by reading my article called How to Attract Bluebirds.

Which species of bluebird lives in your state? Click here to find out what species of bluebirds to look for in all fifty US states.

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